Having a massage is a very personal experience and you need to feel completely at ease with your therapist and be able to communicate with them about your treatment and any particular areas that you would like them to help you deal with.  It is also advisable to ask for the qualifications and the length of time their training took, whether they are members of a professional body and if they have treatment insurance.  Professional therapists would be happy to give you answers to these questions.   

Caroline Webb, owner of Shine Woking, comments: “The communication between the therapist and client is vital. Before I start any treatment, I always take a full medical history and ask my client where in particular they feel they need specific treatment. We have a Standard where we ask at the beginning of a session how the customer wants to feel at the end of the treatment and then we re-evaluate this at the end. I also take the time to explain the treatment in more detail and also give the customer the benefits of the products and oils I am about to use. For the Decleor back massage for instance, the choice of products is a joint decision and part of the initial dialogue for both male and female clients. What they say in this initial dialogue often determines what products and techniques I will use on them as part of the treatment. Many beauty salons offer ‘off-the-shelf’ treatments without listening to their customers and modifying them to suit their need. I believe this is a great shame.”

The bespoke treatment is a key differentiator that Caroline’s customers are keen to point out. Karen W comments: “I have had previous beauty treatments before but what sets Shine apart is the feeling of individual care and attention. During the actual treatment Caroline was meticulous and took time to explain what she was doing and ensure I felt relaxed and happy and fully understood the process. She answered a range of beauty questions/concerns I had and also advised on a range of products to suit my needs.”

The communication needs to continue throughout the treatment too. As the massage commences, if the pressure is not hard enough or if it is too firm, you should let your therapist know. Caroline has had many issues with her back and so is very honest about her treatments. She adds: “There is a bond of trust which happens with clients – particularly those who come for several sessions. I am very open about issues I have had with my spinal column and neck and so I feel I am really able to understand what a client may need. I often integrate techniques that have been used on me into my treatments and I find this really works. I’ve been told that my massage technique is firm and really relaxes muscle aches. I also use a heated couch in all my treatments as this warms the back muscles up before and during a treatment - I like to think of it as similar to a warm up in the gym before a physical work out. Your muscles are being worked on after all, even if you are lying down. I also use many different techniques depending on the type of massage needed by the customer to give them the best results for their treatment session including petrissage, kneading, pummelling and acupressure to name a few.”

Shine client, Karen J, says: “I have been a regular customer of Caroline’s for over 6 months now and am reaping the benefits of her skills and technique. Caroline tailors the massage not only to the customer but to the individual needs of that customer at the time. I usually book in early afternoon, taking a late lunch from work, and return to the office feeling relaxed and revitalised, ready to take on the world again. Caroline’s excellent use of pressure keeps my shoulders and neck loose and prevents return of a long-term arm injury which could otherwise periodically keep me out of work altogether.”